Tour de Yorkshire extended to four day event

Organisers Welcome to Yorkshire and A.S.O had been aiming to extend the race after its success over the last three years.

Cycling’s world governing body the UCI confirmed the decision this week, with the four-day event being included on its 2018 Europe Tour calendar between Thursday 3rd and Sunday 6th May.

The Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire will also double in size next year, increasing from one to two days on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th May.

The Tour de Yorkshire was launched in 2015 following the Tour de France Grand Départ 12 months previously.

This year’s event was broadcast live in 180 countries and a record 2.2m fans lined the route. The race also generated £64m for the Yorkshire economy and the Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire remains one of the most lucrative events in the sport.

Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Sir Gary Verity said: “This is absolutely tremendous news and something we have long been working to achieve. We are grateful to British Cycling for supporting our application, and to the UCI for granting us this extension.

“Seeing the Tour de Yorkshire grow into what it is today is one of my team’s very proudest achievements and none of this would have been possible if the people of Yorkshire – and Great Britain – hadn’t taken the race to their hearts.

“This decision will help us attract even bigger names in the future and allow us to design a more varied and spectacular route.

“Our race is growing in stature all the time and the next two editions will hold even greater prestige given that Yorkshire is also hosting the UCI Road World Championships in 2019.

“Cycling is booming across the county and today marks an exciting new chapter for our race.”

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